338 EARLY SPRING-FLOWERING SPECIES OF SCILLA. 
to this beautiful species. Part of this confusion is due to Redouté, 
who, in 1807, figured our present plant as S. ameena, but after a time 
(in 1809), finding that he was in error, he named it S. cernua. 
He does not seem to have been aware that Andrews had in 1804 
already figured and described the plant as 8. Sidirica. This latter 
name, then, clearly has priority. It flowers a little later than S. bifolia, 
but before S. amena. Some doubts have been entertained as to the 
correctness of the name 8. Sibirica, it having been stated that the plant 
does not occur in Siberia. Whether this be so or not we cannot de- 
termine, but we have seen specimens gathered by Pallas near the river 
Volga, but in what part of its course is not stated. At any rate, the 
head-quarters of the species would appear to be in Persia, Asia Minor, 
about Erzeroum, ete. Varieties with larger flowers than ordinary, 
and others with solitary blossoms, are represented in herbaria, and we 
have seen similar illustrations in British gardens; but they are so 
similar in all other respects to the type that no one can look upon 
them as any other than trifling variations. 
a. Scilla Sibirica, var. amenula.—S. amcenula, Bot. Mag. t. 2408. 
To this form we refer some plants which are smaller than S. Sibirica, 
with more ovate bulbs and paler flowers. But that the plant is well 
figured in the Magazine, and is known in at least a few gardens, 
we should not have deemed it worth while to retain this as a distinet 
form. 
3. SCILLA AMGNA, Linn. ; Redouté, Lil. t. 9985 Bot. Mag. t. 341. 
— Bulb ovoid or roundish. Leaves numerous, spreading, strap-shaped, 
acute, 10-12 inches long, + inch wide; midrib prominent on the 
under surface. Scape erect, shorter than the leaves, compressed, two- 
edged, striated, purplish above. Flowers 3-6, dark indigo-blue, in a 
loose two-sided cluster, horizontal when expanded. Pedicels erect, 
curved at the apex, bluish, 3 to 2 inch long, springing from the axil of 
a very minute whitish bract. Pes 6-parted, nearly 1 inch across 
when expanded; segments spreading horizontally or even reflexed, 
lanceolate, acute, slightly concave at the apex; midrib prominent, 
inner segments slightly broader. Filaments dilated and whitish at the 
base, blue above, one-third shorter than perianth; anthers blue. Ovary 
pale yellow, oblong; style blue 
A native of Central Europe, the Tyrol, ete., and an old inhabitant of 
MEER RNT 
